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The Life of a Juilliard Dancer

Ever wonder what it would be like to dance for Juilliard?

We recruited Victoria to keep a dance diary of her experiences. Victoria is a real dancer at Juilliard School in New York City. She will explain how she came about becoming a student and what her day to day life is like. If you ever dreamed of being a student at Juilliard, this will be a peek inside the life of one of its current stars!

9th Entry, May 8th, 2013:

Suddenly, there are only 14 days left of my freshmen year at Juilliard! These next two weeks are possibly the busiest of the year! Thankfully, the injury that had kept me from dancing to my fullest is completely healed. After a couple of appointments and a weekend off, I’m good as new! It’s a good thing too, because just today was our Composition Class’s final project performance! I started working on the piece with two of my classmates way back in April. Today we performed the finished product during an in-studio showcase for our faculty and fellow dancers. I was so proud of my classmates. Everyone had collaborated within their groups, and seeing their ideas come together during a performance was truly incredible.

Speaking of performances, I begin stage rehearsals for Missa Brevis this upcoming Monday! The rehearsal period really flew by. The performances are on May 17th and 18th. My class is excited to perform the piece. Missa Brevis is like a rite of passage; once the shows are over, we are officially second year students! We are no longer the low man on the totem pole! Working on this piece together has been a great bonding experience. A lot of us won’t see each other all summer, so it’s nice to end the year with a strong and meaningful ensemble piece.

However, before we perform, we have to take our finals. I have a Music and Dance History final. Dance History class is so much fun! I love learning about the careers and history of the greatest dancers of all time. That final should be easy enough. On the other hand, my Music final will require a little more preparation. I'm a little nervous for it! I came into Juilliard without any basic music training. On our final, we are required to read scores, identify time signatures and be familiar with a libretto of an opera. Other sections include identifying and describing certain instruments. The final is next Tuesday, so I'm going to start studying now!

In addition to school events, I also have some great things lined up for the summer! Not everything is definite (there is more paperwork to be done!), but stay tuned for some exciting news in the upcoming weeks!

8th Entry, April 30th, 2013:

Not only do I dance ‘til I drop each and every day, I also do as much work-study as possible. As a matter of fact, I'm writing this as I'm working my ushering job! The opera has just begun and I'm sitting at my post right outside of the door of the orchestra section. For our ushering uniform, we have to wear a white shirt and black bottoms. Today I have to wear my orthopedic sneakers because I came straight from a very intense acupuncture session. No heels tonight! For a dancer, function always wins in the battle against fashion. I wish I could watch the show, but since it's the end of the semester, I have a ton of homework to do. I am able to sit out here, write this entry, edit a paper, and listen to the beautiful singing from inside the theatre! I must say, work-study at Juilliard is never boring.

Another job I picked up this past Saturday is working for the Juilliard Development Office. The office organized a Juilliard Juniors performance in the Kaufman studio. The studio has one glass wall that overlooks Broadway. It's truly the biggest and brightest studio in the building! The event was about exposing very young children to dance. Several of my classmates performed ballet, jazz or tap pieces for an audience of boys and girls aged two to four and their parents. I watched the show and inadvertently 'babysat' the children who couldn't sit through the entire performance. Perhaps I take after my mother who is a Kindergarten teacher because I just love little kids! After the performance was over, I helped set up the catered food. I couldn't help but nibble on a few of the kiddie snacks like Goldfish and sip a juice box. The children then had free range to dance around the studio with their parents and the dancers. It was so much fun! At the end of the event, I was even offered a babysitting position! It's all about networking here in the Big Apple. This month I was able to earn a small income from giving tours of the school, ushering, working in the development office, and filing papers in another office. It is crucial to seek out opportunities and take advantage of every situation! Productivity is key!

7th Entry, April 24th, 2013:

A dancer’s body should work like a well-oiled machine. However, sometimes here and there the machine has a glitch. I rely so much on my feet and ankles that sometimes things slip out of place. For about two weeks, my ankle had been bothering me. I had been taking it easy when I could and massaging it to keep the pain under control. Needless to say, the Workshop last Friday was a great success; our choreographer received great compliments from teachers and friends. We were all proud of our performance. I managed to dance in the Workshop witout too much discomfort. The adrenaline from being onstage makes your body numb to pain. However, inside the studio, you can feel it all.

Today during ballet class, I realized I could’t even point my foot while I was doing an exercise at the barre! My ankle just froze up. My teacher sensed something was wrong. She instructed me too see the Associate Director for a referral for an acupuncturist/chiropractor. I was so thankful that when I called the office; I was able to come in for an appointment almost immediately. I knew I was in good hands. I mean, if Juilliard trusts this doctor with their dancers, he must really know his stuff! I explained to him the situation, and he managed to make the pain go away. I was thankful that something was just out of place and I hand’t done anything un-fixable or permanent. I practically limped to the office and when I left, I was a pain-free woman!

I must say that I believe that everything happens for a reason. As soon as I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I checked my phone and saw I had a new e-mail. It turns out that one of the choreographers for next year’s April Concert who had observed my ballet class wanted to have a private audition/rehearsal with me and several other women who he felt could fill a few of the main roles of his piece. I could’t believe the timing! With my foot as good as new, I’d be able to fully dance in this mini-audition! I’m honored to just be considered for a leading role. Even if I don’t end up getting one of the leads, I’ll be happy that I had the opportunity to work semi-privately with the choreographer.

I could not have predicted the turn of events that happened today. Until next time, stay healthy, happy and proactive! It all pays off!

6th Entry, April 18th, 2013:

This week is absolutely chaotic! There is no time to catch Spring Fever, I need to manage my time well and be ready to go! The rehearsal process is finally over for the student workshop piece. I've ben rehearsing until 10 o'clock the past few nights. The show is this Friday. I can't wait to make my debut in the Wilson Theatre. It's a small and intimate space where all of the student choreography is performed.

We are also getting down to the wire with our Missa Brevis rehearsals; the show is less than five weeks away. We have to go through every detail and every step to make sure the piece looks "clean."

Not only am I a student ambassador and take incoming students on tours of the school, I am also the Student Representative for my class. Every three weeks, I sit around a conference table with the other student representatives along with the Artistic Director, Associate Director and Administrative Director of the Dance Division. We discuss any issues or questions that the classes has asked their Student Representative to bring up. It's a great way to get to know the men and women who run the division.

In addition to the packed rehearsal and class schedule, I am also juggling academic classes. This week, I am giving a presentation and handing in a research paper on the famous ballerina Njinska. She danced and choreographed in the early to mid twentieth century. The book is just a delight to read. Her stories of watching the ballerinas of the Russian Imperial Theatres perform Swan Lake and her description of her summers with the Ballet Russes in Monte Carlo are just magnificent. After a long day of rehearsals, I love to curl up with a good book.

5th Entry, April 12th, 2013:

Spring has finally come to New York City! A dancer’s body reacts well to this warm weather; all of those winter aches just melt away in the heat. I’ve been trying to spend time outside as much as possible, even if it’s during a fifteen minute break!

Springtime at Juilliard also means that we find out who will be part of next year’s freshmen class. I was chosen to be a Student Ambassador for when the admitted students visit the school. I can’t wait to finally meet the new freshmen! I look forward to getting to know some of the new students before the start of the school year in September. Sometimes new students come with parents or teachers. I will pick them up from the Admissions Office and take them to observe my class. After observing either ballet or modern class, I will take them to eat lunch in the cafeteria. My class is so welcoming, I know that the new students will love bonding with us! I look forward to answering any and every question they have; I know I had a lot when I visited!

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I spent the day as a “new freshmen.” I remember that day so clearly, I even remember what I wore. I hoped that when it was time for this year’s freshmen to visit I would be asked to be an ambassador. Look at me now!

In other news, next year’s April Concert is already being planned! Some casting choices will be made as early as the end of this year! After seeing the upperclassmen perform so wonderfully this past weekend, I can’t wait to get up on that stage and work with world renowned choreographers. But, the show’s not for an entire year. Before I can get too involved with next year’s performances, I must focus on this year’s! We are still in rehearsals for Missa Brevis. There are so many exciting things on the way!

4th Entry, April 3rd, 2013:

After a two week respite, I was ready to sauté my way back into the studio! I was happy that I took classes over the break so I wouldn’t be sore the first day back. I’m glad I did, we had a full day of classes and rehearsals that first Monday. Besides rehearsing for our show in May and being involved in a student choreography piece, I’ve also started to work on my final assignment for my Composition (choreography) class. I decided to collaborate with two of my classmates. It’s always a little overwhelming when you start to choreograph; the possibilities are endless!

The three of us decided that we’d like to draw inspiration from Édouard Manet’s Le déjeuner sur l’herbe. Seeing as our trio consists of two men and one woman, the same number as in the painting, we thought it would be a perfect place to start. You may being wondering how a dancer, a performing artist, can derive movement from a painting. To start, the three of us used our imagination to establish relationships between the three people in the painting. Next, we imagined what things these individuals in the painting would talk about. From there, we created phrases of movement, like short combinations, to fit our “characters.” I use quotation marks because we are not simply acting out a narrative story; we used the painting keep us on track and maintain cohesive ideas. I enjoy working in small groups because each person has his or her own personal style. I’m so lucky to be able to collaborate with my extremely talented classmates. I feel that this collaboration process has been an important learning experience because the three of us all possess such different and unique qualities of movement.

Oh! how can I forget? The upperclassmen are dancing in Juilliard’s annual April Concert this week. The dancers will be performing repertory works by acclaimed choreographers: Paul Taylor, William Forsythe and Murray Louis. I can’t wait to be part of next year’s performance. As for this year, I’ll be watching from the audience and supporting my fellow dancers.

3rd Entry, March 13th, 2013:

Although the second and final week of Spring Break has kicked off, the end is not near! There is too much to do! Since school is out, I go elsewhere to take classes. There are so many places and opportunities in New York City. I think it’s important to make the most of this fantastic city whenever possible.

I enjoy taking open classes not only to stay in shape, but to reconnect with others in the dance community. In an open class, I also have the freedom to artistically experiment. Even though the studio is filled with people, you can be anonymous if you choose. It’s the beauty of New York! I’ve finally been able to spend more hours at the Pilates studio. My Pilates mentor and I have a wonderful relationship; I’ve been doing Pilates with her for about five years now. She’s training me to be a teacher at the studio! I can’t wait to start teaching in the near future. I would love to bring dancers to the studio and introduce them to the wonderful world of Pilates!

In addition to my busy schedule in the city, this vacation gave me the opportunity to spend time with my family. I loved spending entire days at my house without having to worry when I had to catch a train back to school. While I was at home, I finalized my summer plans. I’ll be a part of a program that focuses on developing and refining improvisational skills. I’m excited to dive into this program! Summer can’t come soon enough. Afterall, this girl had to deal with a snow storm on her spring break. Let the sunshine in!

2nd Entry, March 5th, 2013:

It's finally Spring Break! For most college kids, this time of year means heading down south to blow off some mid-semester steam. For us here at Juilliard, it's the perfect time to get a break from the increasingly intensive rehearsals for our end of the year performances.

We have two whole weeks off! I'm lucky enough to be based in New York, so I can take open classes around the city that I don't usually have time for when school is in session. I’m also trying to get to the Pilates studio as often as possible. I believe that cross training is crucial to keeping your body healthy. Hopefully, this big nor’easter they are predicting won’t hit us so I can ride my bike around the city! Since Juilliard itself is still open, I’ve been able to do some work/study in an office and usher some of the musical performances. I love being able to work right inside of school.

To be at Juilliard during this time of year is very exciting; it’s audition week! As I walk to make copies or run an errand to the mail room, I see girls with slicked-back buns clutching their dance bags anxiously waiting to be summoned to the audition studio. I was in their shoes just one year ago! I remember warming up in the studio where I currently have my daily ballet class. It’s surreal. Now, it’s like I have two homes. My parents house is just a hop, skip and a jump away from my dorm room that overlooks Lincoln Center. Many of my friends live thousands of miles away from their families; one of my classmates is from Australia! I like to bring my friends home with me on the weekends when my schedule allows it. My schedule now, as busy as it is, will intensify in the fall semester. I just can’t believe that in the coming months, I won’t be a First Year anymore. Second Year means more privileges and opportunities, but more responsibilities.

First Entry, February 26th, 2013:

I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. I was sitting in my high school’s library when my phone rang. I ran into the hallway, quickly answered the phone: it was The Juilliard School! I had been accepted as one of the thirteen women they chose from around the world. As a first year student in my second semester, I am living my dream. Not only am I dancing in New York City, but I am living here too! My days here at Juilliard are jam-packed! I juggle rehearsals, liberal arts, and dance classes. Each morning, I have either a music or liberal arts class, a ballet class, a modern class and then lunch.

After lunch, I have a choreography class, a performance class or dance history, and I end my day with various rehearsals. This week, I will be performing in the February student choreography workshop. Students get the chance to choose music, a cast of dancers, and create their own piece. One of my classmates choreographed a piece for the entire class. It will be my debut in a workshop! I’m so very excited. Hopefully, I’ll find the inspiration and courage to choreograph a piece in the near future! I’m also in the rehearsal process of a José Limón piece entitled Missa Brevis. The piece is set on the entire freshmen class. We will perform the piece in May on the school’s largest stage, in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. Our rehearsal director was a prominent member in The Limón Company and danced the piece many times. She wants to make sure each movement reaches its fullest potential. We have not learned the entire piece yet, but that’s why we rehearse for five hours a week. My first semester went by so quickly, I can’t believe the end of the year is already approaching. I won’t get ahead of myself just yet; the year still has so many exciting things to bring!

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